Hi - should the fan be spinning when the engine is idling. I've only had the car on the road for a few days and the fan runs continually - I though I read somewhere that there is a thermal clutch of soem sort!

Steve

Eletrical Fan or the mechanical fan? This would help others better answer your question.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

I meant the mechanical fan, the one driven off the crankshaft
Steve

Yes, it will spin at idle. It will only spin up to about 1500rpm though, even if the engine turns faster. When hot enough, it will engage and spin up to about 3500rpm, even if the engine spins faster. That's normal operation.

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Note that he's in the UK, so this is probably a non-turbo 300D. My 240D has a solid hub, no clutch. Might the 300 be like that also?

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Good catch, Rick. I'd assume it has a visco clutch but I'm really not familiar with the Euro models, especially the older ones. What I wrote above applies if there is a thermal fan clutch. If it's a solid connection the fan will spin at the same speed as the w/p pulley at all times.

It is a non turbo car - eng# 617.912.

I'm surprised it's spinning from start - hence the Q. I doubt it's any different US vs Euro spec.
Steve

My 3 * W123 300Ds all behave like this - fan spins at idle, spins faster when air flow is hot.
On some cars I had in the past, you could hear the different fan noise when the thermal clutch actuated. Not so on the 300Ds though - I can't hear the difference.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

Typical equipment is a viscous slip clutch on the fan.

With the car stopped, it should not spin freely if given a whirl by hand. So it will not sit still when the car is running either.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

A friend of mine has a Euro import 300D, and he's got a viscous fan clutch. I even think it works!

I still want to see if putting an electrically-operated engine fan clutch on a 123 is feasible...